THE FACE OF AMERICA

I understand the expression "The Ugly American.

I've lived overseas, and seen American tourists being loud, rude and insulting. I can fully appreciate that to a lot of people, NOT Americans, we are not a real classy group of people.

BUT I DO NOT WANT DONALD TRUMP TO REPRESENT ME.

I appreciate that political opponents can get a little nasty and call each others names, and insinuate things, and point in all negative directions.

BUT I CANNOT ACCEPT DONALD TRUMP'S SHEER RUDENESS.

He is not outspoken or honest - he is rude. He calls people names, he insults like a 12 year old, he is the ultimate say-whatever-he-wants-at-that-particular-instant.

I AM EMBARRASSED TO HAVE HIM EVEN SERIOUSLY BEING CONSIDERED A REPUBLICAN NOMINATION.  

I want to have a dignified, well-educated, intelligent and MATURE individual to be our commander-in-chief.

I don't want a reality-show buffoon, who makes fun of people, belittles them, and talks trash about woman in particular.

Can we just have President Obama for one more term?

Please?

EW! GROSS! YUCKY! ICKY!

You may have noticed that I am trying to get back into the habit of writing in here. Even to the point that I am taking suggestions.

So here is a suggested topic: 9 things you just can’t handle.

And here are mine!

1. People sniffing instead of blowing their noses. I don't mean "little" sniffles, that we all get with a slightly runny nose. But a big INWARD SNORT - you can FEEL the mucus flying back into their throat. It's sickening. 

2. Drivers not using their turn signals. And yes, we all forget sometimes, I realize. But this is the drivers who stomp on their brakes without warning and then make a hard left without warning. Who sit in the middle of the road without any idea of where they might be going. It's almost worse, the ones who turn on their turn signals AFTER they begin to turn - yeah, right, thanks a lot.

3. People who are so rabid about abortion. NOW HOLD ON JUST A SECOND. I am not FOR abortion - I don't know anyone who IS, including people who have HAD abortions. But it seems like the people I have met who ARE so against abortion also seem to be against free birth control - free health clinics - and help of ANY sort for the mother and child when s/he is born. If life is so precious, then it is when the baby is born to. Make it easier to adopt - track down the father and make him responsible too - give scared young girls who get pregnant some options.

4. Holes in my socks. Any kind of holes. I spent too many years putting UP with holes in my socks because of refusal to spend money on myself - now, I just can't tolerate them for even a MINUTE.

5.Parents who hit their kids. Yes, I suppose spanking sometimes can be justified - but I mean people who just haul off and whack their kids because they are mad at them. That's child abuse, that's not discipline.

6. Oreo cookies. I mean the ones they sell today. Even the Double-Stuff ones are as thin as the former REGULAR ones were. The middle stuff is all that makes them worthwhile, and there isn't enough of it THERE.

7. Nursing homes. I realize there are necessary, and the staff is seriously overworked and under-paid. But they are normally plain and simple, UGLY. Stark, un-decorated, UGLY. And I understand WHY - to keep clean, sterile, because patients come and go, because there's no extra money. But it's still AWFUL.

8. People who are deliberately rude. I don't mean accidentally or just lack of manners taught - but people who intentionally WANT to hurt people's feelings. Just to make, somehow, themSELVES feel better.

And last but not least, 9. Donald Trump.

 

BOOK LOVER

I love Pinterest.

No, let me phrase that a little bit better.

I LOVE Pinterest.

It’s electronic hording – but it’s better than crack heroin… right? (of course, I use that same excuse for almost anything I want to do).

But I came across something the other day which seriously offended me.

See, I love books – and the reading that normally (at least to me) goes with having books.

But I guess some people love book… as decorative items.

And they sell them – on-line – BY COLOR.

Not by subject – not by author – but by COLOR.

And maybe size.

People, I am sorry, this is WRONG.

At least to a bibliophile such as myself.

There is nothing at all wrong with using books as decorations, of course.

BUT READ THEM!

WEAKNESS? ME?

I have a lot of weaknesses, but the challenge I took says to list just five.


1. I'm impatient. With other people - with  myself - with life in general. When I want something, I want it NOW. And I'm impatient with anyone who doesn't want it as quickly as I do!

I am one of those well-if-it-gets-done-quickly-it-doesn't-really-matter-if-it's-done well person. I am fast and sloppy... but mainly sloppy.


2. I am scared of quite a few things. Heights - well, actually, falling DOWN from heights.  Angry people - okay, probably getting HIT and damaged by angry people.



3. I am not, and never ever WILL be, a morning person.




4. I am confident... a tad too much. I am pretty certain that I'll get through anything and/or everything. I think I could use a touch more humility - I'm working on it.



And 5. I am very guilty of judging people way too quickly. For someone who is incredibly sloppy in her personal appearance, I rapidly rate someone by their personal appearance MUCH too soon. I immediately take into account their physical fitness (weight, height, firmness) - and as a (relatively) short, fat person.... this is STUPID.

TOO MANY JOKES ABOUT MY NAME

I don't mind being my ward's back-up chorister.
The regular chorister is often late - she has a toddler AND a new-born - so I step in for at least the opening hymn... and sometimes the sacrament hymn... without much hesitation.



And today was one such a day.


But at least I didn't have to lead the closing hymn.


Which was "Hope of Israel."

WOULD WE EVER AGREE?

As humans, we still to always come to different conclusions.




Mainly because we don't all get the same information.




Some information gets warped by the media/reporting/political angle.




But i think the real problem is how we don't always recognize how much it is changed/modified by our OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCES.




If we've been hurt, we're much less likely to trust.




If we've been lied to, we aren't as quick to believe.





If we got hit, we're not likely to get under things again.




And if we've been raised, taught, and HAVE CAUSE TO BELIEVE someone who has any of these issues, it affects us too.




My bit of wisdom for the last day of 2015.

A CAT SANDWICH

The dog is snuggled up against my side onto of the bed.






She settles down with just the lower half of her body against me.






Then the cat slips in underneath the covers between the two of us.







And happily goes to sleep for as long as she can.